Three female MCHHS employees standing outside, next to Senior Life Enrichment sign.
Senior Life Enrichment: Celebrating 5 Years of Mental Health Support for Seniors
As Senior Life Enrichment (SLE) marks its fifth anniversary on May 1st, we celebrate the healing and empowerment this outpatient program has provided for over 75 individuals and families from Mitchell, Jewell, Cloud, and Lincoln. The anniversary of SLE coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of mental health support for seniors and to promote awareness of their unique needs during this significant month.
For many seniors, mental health challenges ranging from depression and anxiety to grief and loneliness, affect everyday living. Recognizing this reality, SLE was established as an intensive outpatient program specifically tailored to meet the unique behavior health needs of older adults. Therapeutic services including individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, and medication management are provided by our professional healthcare team consisting of a psychiatrist, licensed social worker, registered nurse and unit clerk. Each component of the program is carefully designed to promote healing, resilience, and personal growth.
One of the key principles of SLE is empowerment. The program is carefully designed to empower seniors as active participants in their own wellness journey. Through education, support, and encouragement, seniors learn valuable coping skills, build social connections, and reclaim a sense of purpose and hope.
A recent participant shared, “SLE was just what I needed. I was nervous at first, but the group and staff helped me so much. I was grieving the death of my husband and felt like my world ended. I found others who had similar experiences and I found hope.”
Over the past five years, SLE has made a profound impact on the communities it serves. The program has formed partnerships with local healthcare providers, long term care facilities, and community resources, raising awareness about the importance of mental health in aging populations and advocating to identify, access and treat individuals in need.
As SLE celebrates this milestone, it also looks to the future with optimism and determination. The need for mental health support among seniors is only expected to grow as the population ages. SLE remains committed to expanding its reach, enhancing its services, and continuing to be a light of hope for seniors and their families for years to come.
Five years ago, Senior Life Enrichment embarked on a mission to advocate and support senior mental health care. Today, we reflect on the lives that have been touched, the barriers that have been broken, and the resilience that has been ignited.
If you or a loved one would like to learn more about SLE, a service of Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems, please call 785-534-1536.